As part of the “Start Small; Dream Big” initiative with the Stoke and Staffordshire Careers Hub, The Inspirational Learning Group were delighted to welcome students from 8 primary schools to Keele University for the initiative’s celebration event.
The ‘Start Small; Dream Big’ Primary Careers Pilot, developed by the Careers and Enterprise Company, is designed to ignite young imaginations and raise awareness of their future world of work. The programme brings learning alive by linking curriculum learning to careers and providing opportunities for students to meet inspiring employers, enabling them to explore different jobs and understand the skills that they will need for their future.
Supported by local employer GivEnergy, over 40 primary schools from Staffordshire have had the opportunity to take part in the initiative which has seen students learning about the skills of the future, whilst exploring sustainability and green careers through a video-led challenge developed by our Head of Curriculum, Education and Quality Rebecca Clarke.
The 5 session programme culminated in the students pitching their own innovative concept that could be developed and sold by GivEnergy in the future.
On 26th March, over 60 students from 8 primary schools joined The Inspirational Learning Group, GivEnergy and Stoke and Staffordshire Careers Hub at the Westminster Theatre in Keele University to share their innovations, complete an engineering activity and enjoy a delicious pizza lunch!
Hosted by The Inspirational Learning Group, we were delighted to see some incredible presentations from the students – innovative ideas and confidently taking to the stage, it’s no mean feat for the students, some of whom were as young as Year 3! The students were an absolute credit to themselves and their schools and with these young people at the forefront of sustainability, the future is looking very bright!
Dan Mears – Business Development & Partnerships Manager for The Inspirational Learning Group said, It’s been a privilege to support the Careers & Enterprise Company’s Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Careers Hub with the rollout of the Start Small; Dream Big Primary pilot in the region. The programme has seen collaboration between educators and industry to deliver a teacher encounter, to arm primary educators with the knowledge, insights and awareness of Careers Related Learning, along with a comprehensive CPD programme and an exciting interactive activity for their students.
We’re grateful to the Careers Hub for placing their trust in us to deliver the programme successfully, appreciative of GivEnergy – our partner from industry who enabled us to deliver some key insights into the sustainability and green economy sector – and, Keele University for hosting the celebration event. Most importantly, I’d like to thank the teachers and students who took part in the pilot for their enthusiasm and commitment to embrace the ethos of the programme over the past year.
We look forward to continuing and expanding our work in the primary sector, as we know how critical early intervention is for young people, to prevent life-limiting stereotypes and perceived barriers”.
